John Kuester: Pistons' perimeter game hurt by lack of consistent post presence

AUBURN HILLS -- Detroit Pistons coach John Kuester thought from the start he had a playoff team, though it would need to stay healthy and produce points from the perimeter.

Turns out, the beleaguered and oft-injured Pistons are now mathematically eliminated from playoff possibilities, and too little offense these days comes from the perimeter or any place on the floor.

Kuester acknowledged Tuesday before the Pistons lost to Indiana 98-83 at The Palace on Tuesday the addition of a post scorer could help a team that depends on perimeter shooting and ranks 29th among the 30 teams in points per game (93.4).

“One of the things when you have a guy that can consistently score down low, it does open up your perimeter game,” he said.

“But that’s just the makeup of this team. Going into the season, I felt this way: We’re going to have to drive and kick and get shots, and most of our points in the paint are going to be through slashing to the basket and driving to the hole, as opposed to having somebody who can dominate inside.”

Kuester maintains health issues have hampered the team from the start, and made it difficult offensively and defensively.

“I always say the biggest thing on a team that wants to be a championship team is health,” he said. “You stay healthy throughout a year, you’ve got a chance. That’s the biggest thing. You get into a season and teams that pretty much give themselves a chance to win a championship stay healthy throughout it.”

HEALTH REMAINS an issue. The Pistons were missing defensive presence Ben Wallace against the Pacers. The veteran center is having pain in both knees, though he said before the game it is primarily his left knee.

“I’m sure he is going to make sure he feels 100 percent if he comes back again,” Kuester said. “But, at this stage of his career, and also at this time of the season, it’s hard to be 100 percent.”

KUESTER SAID there will be no changes by him in the final games of the season.

“What we’re doing is putting our best foot forward,” he said. “We’re searching right now, even as we’re talk about this, making sure we have five guys who are going to play their hardest and doing whatever it takes to win.”